Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka - 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights - Dhaka

Well it was Sri Lanka's day as Dilshan and Kapugedera stole the limelight. The Bangladesh team would be kicking themselves after grabbing three top order wickets, they allowed the pair of Dilshan and Kapugedera to get away. SL scored an amazing 371 runs of 90 overs at more than 4 an over. Dilshan played the innings of his life while Kapugedera too contributed in equal measure. We are in for another fascinating day tomorrow as Kapugedera looks for his maiden hundred in Test match cricket.

About an hour and half into the opening session, Sri Lanka's decision to bat first seemed to have backfired. On a slow-paced surface, batting was an ordeal and Sri Lanka limped to 65 for 3, with their two most experienced batsmen back in the pavilion. The next two sessions told a different story, thowever, thanks to Tillakaratne Dilshan's counterattacking brilliance.

His fast-paced 162, complemented by Chamara Kapugedera's unbeaten 93 and a patient 63 by Malinda Warnapura, had such a demoralising effect on the home side that Sri Lanka added a further 306 in two sessions.

Dilshan walked in shortly after lunch with his team wobbling at 75 for 4. Until then, the top order had struggled on a pitch which rendered shot-making difficult. Mashrafe Mortaza's restrictive line didn't allow the batsmen easy runs and even the introduction of spin - as early as the 10th over - didn't offer much respite.

With the ball turning and bouncing, the batsmen were caught in a shell and the spirited fielding by the home side suffocated the visitors. The best - and probably the only - way out, was to counter-attack and it was left to the trigger-happy Dilshan - already with the reputation of being a thrasher - to begin the rescue efforts and carry on.

The body language was a contrast to the morning session when Mortaza struck in the first over, dislodging makeshift opener Prasanna Jayawardene with one on the board. Prasanna walked back after being hit in front of leg stump, and Kumar Sangakkara followed after inside-edging the same bowler on to his stumps. Mahela was very circumspect and his punches failed to beat the infield. He fell to Shakib for 11, prodding forward.

The were few smiles in the home camp after that but much to their relief, they got rid of Dilshan before stumps, bowled freakishly round his legs. With Kapugedera still around, a score of 450 looms.

Source : Cricinfo with author's input.